Paul

THE parish of Paul, or S. Paul, is situated in the deanery and hundred of Penwith; it is bounded on the north by Madron; on the east by Mount’s Bay; on the south by the sea and S. Burian; and on the west by S. Burian and Sancreed.

The estimated tithable lands of the parish amount to 2662 acres, which are thus subdivided:—arable 1904A.; gardens 176A; crofts, cliffs, and commons 582A.

The living is a vicarage in the gift of the Lord Chancellor. The tithes are commuted at £910 12s.; namely, to the vicar £512 12s.; and to the impropriators, T. T. S. Carlyon, and J. T. Peter, Esquires, in equal undivided moieties, £398.

The parish comprises by actual measurement 3433A. OR. 16P.; of which the glebe called the Churchtown moor, measures 1A. 2R. 25P.; the church and churchyard 3R. 26P.; the “higher churchyard” or school cemetery 2R. 15P.; and roads and streams 66A. 2R. 34P.

Vicars;—Martin James, vicar in 1536; John Tremearne, vicar in 1595; during his incumbency the Spaniards landed at Mousehole, and not only burnt that village, but also set fire to the church; in reference to which the vicar made the following entry in the parish register:—

Jesu spes et salus mea. 1595. A register of the names of all those that were baptized, married, and buried in the Parish church of St. Pawle, in the Countie of Cornwall, from the 23rd Daie Julie, the year of our Lord God 1595, on the which Daie the Church, towre, bells, and all other things pertaining to the same, together with the houses and goods, was Burn’d and spoil’d by the Spaniards in the said parish, being Wensdaie the daie aforesaid, in the 37th year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Ladie Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of England, Fraunce, and Ireland, defender of the Faith.

Per me Johannem Tremearne, Vicarium Ejus.

Henry Pendarves, vicar 58 years, died 1739; Henry Penneck, vicar from 1739 to 1771; John Allen, vicar in 1782; Richard Gurney, vicar circa 1815; C. G. Ruddock-Festing, M.A., presented by Lord Chancellor Eldon, admitted August 14, 1827, died 1857; John Garrett instituted in 1857; W. Carpenter, D.D., died December 24, 1865; and the present vicar, the Rev. Richard Malone, admitted March 13, 1866.

The church was dedicated by bishop Grandisson, July 11, 1336, to S. Paulinus, the first archbishop of York, who was sent into England by pope Gregory I., shortly after the mission of S. Augustine; it was previous to the Reformation, with the church of Breage, attached to the mitred abbey of Hailes, in Gloucestershire, founded by Richard King of the Romans, and Earl of Cornwall. The festival of S. Paulina is on October 12; but the parish feast is celebrated on the nearest Sunday to October 10. In the taxation of 1291, the church is charged as Eccl’ia S’c’i Paulini. The structure comprises a chancel, nave, and north and south aisles. A handsome chancel window of five lights, in Polyphant stone, has recently been inserted. The arcades consist of nine four-centred arches each; but the third arch of the north arcade is very small, and is raised by solid masonry 3 feet 6 inches from the floor. The arcades are supported on octagonal monolith pillars of native granite. A south window is filled with stained glass in commemoration of John and Elizabeth Rowe, of Ragannis in this parish, who died in 1841 and 1845. The font is modern, and the material fine native granite. The tower arch is of a superior character and well-proportioned; it is open to the church; a neat west window, also of Polyphant stone, is now being fixed. There is a south porch, with a doorway in Catacleuse stone; a north door; and a priest’s door in the south chancel aisle.

The following inscription, now defaced, was formerly to be seen in the church,—The Spanyer burnt this church in the year 1595. When the porch was under repair in 1807; some of the woodwork was found to be charred.

The tower is a good building of granite ashlar; it consists of three stages, is double buttressed at the angles, and is finished with battlements and pinnacles. The newel turret rises above the tower, and is similarly finished. The belfry contains three bells. The first bell is inscribed,—“Prosperity to this parish, A.R., 1727;” the second,—“Prosperity to the Church of England, A.R., 1727;” and the third,—“To the church the living call: To the grave do summon all, A.R., 1727.”

Over the west window and on each side is a niche; on the sill of the niche on the left of the window is sculptured the letter M. The hoodmoulding of the doorway springs from corbel-heads, and at its apex is a shield bearing the monogram I.H.S.

Monuments and tablets of marble, etc., bear the following inscriptions:—

Hic juxta jecet corpus Willi: Godolphin de Trewarveneth in Parochiæ Sancti Pauli, Arm Obiit IX die Septembris, Ano. Ætatis suæ LXXIX. Annoq. Domini 1689. Vertitur in cineres Animam curravit Jesu.

Hoc monumentum Eliza Godolphin, filia Thomæ Darrell de Trewornan, in hoc comitatu, Arm. vid. & relicta defuncti, & Joh’es Nicholls in Cliclop supreme Cur Cancellarice felicesq. natu maximus Willi: Nioholls de Trereife, in parochiæ Sancti Maderni, nepotis & cohered. de Willi: Godolphin in Æternam illici memoria erexere Anno Domini 1697.

Over this monument hang two swords, helmet, and other armour; one of the swords is inscribed Nicholas Godolphin, arm., sepultus est Feb. 16, anno 1633.

In memory of Capt. Stephen Hutchens, of this parish, who departed this life at Port Royall in Jamaica, the 24th day of August, 1709; and was buried by the communion table in Kingston Church, in the forty-first year of his age.

Psalm CXII. His heart was established and did not shrink, until he saw his desire upon his enemies. He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor, and his righteousness remaineth for ever, His horn shall be exalted with honour.

He hath given one hundred pounds towards the repairing and beautifying this church; and six hundred pounds for building a house for six poor men and six poor women born in this parish to live in, and towards their maintenance.

Anglia me genuit, corpus Jamaica sepulcro
Jam tenet, ac animam possidet ipse Deus.
Bounas heb dueth Eu poes Karens wei
tha Pobl Bohodzhak Paull han Egles nei.
Heroick actions eternize his fame,
And pious ones with glory crown his name.

The two lines of the above inscription in the Cornish language, have been thus rendered:—

Eternal life be his whose loving care
Gave Paul an almshouse and the church repair.

And thus by another hand:—

Life without end be thine whose love did fall
On the poor people and our church at Paul.

Interred in this place lies the body of Captain Andrew Elton, commander of the Godfrey galley. He was killed in an engagement vith a French privateer off the Land’s End, Sept. 4th, 1710; aged 53. His merit being sufficiently known, he needs no further inscription. [Unfortunately, no more is known about him!]

John Price consecrates this marble to the memory of his nigh relation, John Badcock, whose remains are deposited beneath this altar. Hand in hand they trod the paths of infancy, unconscious of ills to come or care beyond to-day; and years improved the union of their friendship. But ah! gloomy now is the dawn of the morning, melancholy the shadows of the evening; the companion and brother of his youth, for whom he sighs in vain, hath made his bed in the chamber of ashes, where the voice of friendship and kinsman is heard no more.

Filius fuit Gulielmi filii Henrici Badcock de Whitstone in Parochia de Sancti Nicholæ de Whitstone, in Comitatu Cornubiense, qui paucis annis vectigalium urinus prospere Exactor fuit in partu de Penzance, natus Henrico Badcock, ex Johanne sola herede Johannis Good ejusdem loci, ex Dorothea filia Thomæ Penkivil de Sancti Kew, Henricus Badcock habuit in matrimonio Parthesiam filiam & cohæredem Johannis Keigwin, mercatoris de Penzance ex Maria filia Gulielmi Ince de Lanow Paroohia de Sancti Kew, ex Maria filia Johannis Mark de Woodhill, Hæcce Matrona admodum venerante, quæ obiit apud Penzance MDCCLXIV. tum genere cum testimonio cohæres fuit Gulielmi Godolphin de Trewarveneth hujus Parochiæ, armigeri, Margerey filia Niohola Godolphin (Mariti Philippæ filiæ Humphridi Nicholls de Penvose in Parochia de Sancti Tudy), & soror Gulielmi Godolphin, mater fuit Johaunis Keigwin Patres Parthesiæ Henrico Badcock nuptæ. Obiit decimo die Maii MDCCLXXXIV.

Hic juxta situs est Henricus Pendarves, hujus, Ecclesiæ annos 58 Vicarius. In Cura Pastorali sanctus et assiduus. Patre natus Thoma, Samuelis Pendarves de Roscrow, Arm. filio Matre Margareta, Johannis St. Aubyn de Clowance, Arm. filia. Maria simul Conjux pia, prudens, benigna. Filia natu maxima Johannis Borlase de Pendeen, Generosi, et Mariæ de prosapiis Keigwin et Godolphin oriundæ.

Unica Hi Gaudebant filia Margareta.

Perquam charâ, perquam amabili
Indolis, virtumque dotibus ornattâ

Qua verò Borlasiorum Hæredi nupta,
cum familiam hanc numerosa prole amplia veræ,
Heu! medio fere vitæ spatio correpta

Patienter animam effavit.

Quorum in memoriam optime de se promeventium pergrati quo afficitur, desidorii pignus Quantillum hoc quidem posuit viduatus Gualterus Borlase, LL.D.

Henricus Pendarves	obiit	Junii 14, 1739	Ætat	85
Maria Pendarves		Januarii 3, 1759		90
Margareta Borlase		Aprilis 8, 1743		42

At the eastern extremity of this chancel are interred the remains of Henry Penneck, B.A., second son of Charles Penneck, Esq., of Tregembo, in St. Hilary. Vicar of this parish from 1739 to 1771; and afterwards rector of Cheriton Fitzpain, Devon, until his decease, August 23rd, 1784, in the sisty-ninth year of his age. His memory was blessed as long as that generation survived, which had been benefitted by his faithful discharge of the duties of his sacred office.

His wife Juliana, daughter of Thomas Clutterbuck, Esq., of Fareham, Hants, died July 7th, 1807; and is buried near him.

In grateful remembrance of her much loved parents, their surviving daughter Frances, dedicates this tribute of affection.

Beneath the altar are deposited the remains of the Rev. Warwick Oben Gurney, B.A. of Baliol College, Oxford, rector of Aston Bottrell, Salop, and 47 years curate of this parish. Died 1st August, 1849, aged 70 years.     “By grace are ye saved.“—Ephes. 11, 5.

This tablet was erected by his widow and some of his congregation as a testimony of respect and affection.

In memory of the Rev. W. Carpenter, D.D., of Trinity College, Dublin, born at Ballynakill, Queen’s County, in 1806. Died December 24th, 1865. Formerly incumbent of St. Barnabas, Douglas, Isle of Man; afterwards incumbent of St. Jude’s, Liverpool, then rector of Christ Church, Moss Side, Manchester, and finally vicar of this parish. His remains are deposited in the School Cemetery. This tablet is erected as a mark of affectionate remembrance by his surviving parishioners.

“My strength is made perfect in weakness.“—2 Cor., xii c., 9 v.

I.H.S. In memory of the Reverend Charles George R. Festing, M.A., formerly of Saint John’s college, Cambridge, for thirty years vicar of this parish. He died at Warminster, Wilts, on the 30th of August, 1857; and his mortal remains are deposited in the churchyard of Witham Friary, Somerset.

In memory of William Gwavas, Gent who died in 1741.

Grace Marrack, of this parish, died 10th June, 1810, aged 94.

Edward Leah, of this parish, Esq., died December 27th, 1853, in the 54th year of his age. M.R.C.S.